I know I'll get flamed for this. The best scenario now is if we drop to #6 and Spurs climb to #2. Then we'll face Denver in the 1st round and probably Spurs in the second. That's our easiet path to the WCF. The most likely scenario is that we finish #4 or #5, and face Portland in the 1st round, and Lakers in the 2nd round. That's a tough combination.
I thought of something similar as well. Especially, if it looks like we won't be getting home court, might as well tank a few and maneuver into the best matchups.
Not so scared of Portland...although the Rockets have the potential to lose to just about anyone given the way they're running their offense (or not running it). But, if you had to pick someone to play, it would definitely not be 1) Lakers 2) San Antonio 3) Utah Jazz (although I'd love to see us beat them) 4) Maybe Denver (since they're hot right now) so that leaves a few alternatives and while I'd rather face Dallas or New Orleans, I think Portland's not a bad matchup.
I guess it's always possible the rockets will go in a funk and sink down to 6, but i think they've beat the weakers teams recently, so they should pull out about 3 wins at least by season's end... Y'all shouldn't underestimate portland. We haven't really beat them convincingly this season and both games they played worse than they are. Let's hope Portland takes a dive somehow.
They are post season virgins like us so they and NOs are probably our best bet. Both teams with limited playoff success will be a contest of who chokes more under greater stakes but I see both teams as cannon fodder in the second round if they meet up with seasoned winners.
true, but they have nothing to lose, nothing to prove. That's the scariest matchup of all. Also, although they are mainly defined by the play of Roy and Aldridge, they have quite a few guys who are capable of exploding for 20+.
Matchup per persons is important I don't deny that but I always take the macro approach to watching playoff teams. My experience watching the NHL, NFL and some NBA is the playoff warriors in the recent past always make the crucial last minute plays even against supposedly better talented teams by using that experience they have over the up and coming. Eventaully the newcomers will dispose of them after they went thru the pitfalls but it takes several seasons. That is most of the time not all the time. We have something to prove but it is not like we are carrying multiple championship weights behind our backs from recent years so losing to the new kids on the block will mar our recent glory. a contest of who chokes first under high pressure that is how I see it from 2 teams that aren't really expected to go that far.
true, unfortunately, the blazers got it going the last week or so, they are on a really good run and tonight's game is going to give them even more confidence, houston can still beat them, but its going to be more difficult after the great week and a half Portland has had.
So when did you finally realize we're going to play Portland, and when did you decide it's cool to be pissed off at this team since we lost this or other games? I'm sure many of us want to know.
